Oral Utensil

ABSTRACT

According to certain embodiments of the present disclosure, an oral utensil includes at least an elongated body having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, a distal end portion configured for executing an oral care task, and a proximal end portion having a protrusion extending in a substantially orthogonal relation from the longitudinal axis and positioned upon the proximal end portion such that it abuts the palm of a user.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This filing claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/432,988 titled Oral Utensil and filed on Jan. 14, 2011 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Palm pressure points have been identified by a number of researchers including Scarborough et. al. in J Am Dent Assoc, Vol 139, No 10, whose article “Altering the Gag Reflex Via a Palm Pressure Point.” from the same issue is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

The point identified by Scarborough et. al. as well as others known in the art have been demonstrated to affect physiological phenomena relevant to oral care, including for instance modification of the gag reflex. The various pressure points present in the hand of a user which have been identified to have physiological effect will hereinafter be referred to collectively as “pressure point.”

Consequently, devices are disclosed herein for both grossly and selectively applying force upon the pressure points disposed upon a pressure point on a user's palm.

SUMMARY

According to certain embodiments of the present disclosure, an oral utensil includes at least an elongated body having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, a distal end portion configured for executing an oral care task, and a proximal end portion having a protrusion extending in a substantially orthogonal relation from the longitudinal axis and positioned upon the proximal end portion such that it abuts the palm of a user.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, an oral utensil includes an elongated body having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, a distal end portion configured for executing an oral care task, and a proximal end portion having a protrusion extending in a substantially orthogonal relation from the longitudinal axis and positioned upon the proximal end portion such that it selectively abuts the palm of a user at a point P.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the protrusion is sized and shaped to depress pressure point as described by Scarbourough et al.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the distal end portion comprises a tongue brush.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the distal end portion comprises a tooth brush.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the distal end portion comprises a portion of dental floss.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the distal end portion and proximal end portion a separate and distinct members having a complementary male-female coupling allowing them to be coupled to one another.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the coupling is substantially circular, thereby allowing rotation of the distal-end portion relative to the proximal-end portion.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, there are detents disposed upon the rotational path of the coupling operatively configured to interfere with one another at at least two points along the rotational path, thereby defining positions.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, a section of the surface of the proximal end portion is modified by means of one at least one of the following: a embossed pattern, a recessed pattern, or a portion of material having a distinct texture, surface finish, or appearance from the remainder of the proximal end portion.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein there is a section of material disposed upon the surface of the proximal end portion selected from either thermoplastic or silicone.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, there is an aperture extending through the proximal end portion in substantially orthogonal relation to the long axis of the oral utensil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the figures, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals describe substantially similar components throughout the several views. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the claims of the present document.

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the present disclosure in a first configuration.

FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the present disclosure in a second configuration.

FIG. 3 shows a right-hand plan view of the distal-end portion of an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of a distal end portion of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of a proximal end portion of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 shows a right-hand plan wire-frame view of an embodiment of a proximal end portion of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 7-11 show further embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 shows an isometric view of a further embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Various embodiments of the presently disclosed apparatus will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements. In the drawings and in the description that follows, the term “proximal,” will refer to the end of a device or system that is closest to the operator, while the term “distal” will refer to the end of the device or system that is farthest from the operator. Further, the term “dorsal,” will refer to the end of the device or system which in a first configuration is closest to the sky, while the term “ventral” will refer to the end of the device or system which is closest to the ground.

According to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown wherein an oral utensil 1000 comprises a distal end portion 1100 and a proximal end portion 1200.

Referring now to FIG. 3, distal end portion 1100 comprises an elongated shaft having a longitudinal axis X extending therethrough. There is a brush head 1110 disposed near the distal-most portion of distal end portion 1100 having a plurality of bristles 1115 projecting in a substantially dorsal direction therefrom. Brush head 1100 is oriented at acute offset 6 from X.

There is a substantially arcuate face 1120 disposed in a proximal relation to brush head 1110 and in substantially tangential relation therewith. Further, there are a plurality of gripping portions 1130 disposed about the periphery of distal end portion 1100 operatively configured such that a user may engage their hand or fingers thereupon. Gripping portions 1130 may be an elevated area composed of the same material as distal end portion 1100 or composed of another material having a greater coefficient of static friction than the material of which distal end portion 1100 is composed. Further, gripping portions 1130 may comprise an alternative surface finish including, but not limited to embosses, indents, or other finishing techniques known in the art.

There is a pivot 1140 disposed upon the proximal-most portion of distal end portion 1100 wherein pivot 1140 comprises a distal shoulder 1141, a medial bearing surface 1142, a distal shoulder 1143, and a proximal fillet 1144. Bearing surface 1142 comprises a substantially round, elongated portion having a substantially smaller diameter than gripping portions 1130, defining shoulders 1142 and 1143 at the respective distal and proximal ends thereof. Fillet 1144 comprises a rounded edge about the proximal-most portion of distal end portion 1100, operatively configured to aide in the assembly of certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring now to FIG. 5, proximal end portion 1200 is shown, wherein proximal end portion 1200 comprises an distal aperture 1210, a proximal aperture 1220, and a dorsal body 1230.

Referring now for FIG. 6, distal aperture 1210 is a shaped aperture extending proximally into proximal end portion 1200 having a substantially round cross-section. Distal aperture 1210 comprises a distal face 1211, a medial bearing surface 1212, a proximal shoulder 1213, and a proximal fillet 1214 which are operatively configured to abut distal shoulder 1141, medial bearing surface 1142, a distal shoulder 1143, and proximal fillet 1144 respectively, thereby rotably coupling distal end portion 1100 to proximal end portion 1200.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, there are complimentary detents/protrusions disposed upon a proximal end portion and distal end portion of an oral care utensil configured to temporarily mechanically interfere with the rotation of one relative to another, thereby providing tactile feedback thereof. Further, there may be a spring disposed within the engagement mechanism to aide in the insertion and removal of the parts relative to one another.

With continued reference to FIG. 6, proximal aperture 1220 is a substantially ovoid portion removed from the center of proximal end portion 1200 comprising an aperture 1221 and a series of concentric ridges 1222.

Dorsal body 1230 comprises protrusions 1231, 1232, and 1233. Dorsal protrusion 1232 comprises a substantially spherical face extending in a dorsal direction from face 1201. Dorsal protrusion 1232 is configured and disposed such that it abuts and applies force upon the pressure point of a user when proximal end portion 1200 is grasped in the user's hand. Lateral protrusions 1231 and 1233 are respectively disposed distally and proximally of dorsal protrusion 1232.

A method of using the embodiment of the present disclosure shown in the figures will now be described. Oral Utensil 1000 is provided in a first state, as shown in FIG. 1, wherein brush head 1110 is oriented such that bristles 1115 are oriented in a substantially dorsal direction. Next, a user grasps Oral Utensil 1000 about proximal end portion 1200 such that protrusion 1232 is oriented upon the pressure point on the palm of the user, and the user's digits are engaged about gripping portions 1130. Next, a user proceeds to use Oral Utensil 1000 to clean his/her teeth in a manner similar to that of brushing one's teeth known in the art.

Next, as it becomes ergonomically advantageous to do so, a user may rotate distal end portion 1100 relative to proximal end portion 1200 into a second configuration, for instance, such as that shown in FIG. 2, thereby allowing the user to continue brushing opposing teeth while maintaining the contact between protrusion 1232 and a user's pressure point.

Although distal end portion 1100 of the embodiment shown in the figures will be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art to comprise a toothbrush, there are further embodiments of the present disclosure wherein the active, distally oriented portion of the device comprises a tongue cleaner, floss holder, or other oral hygiene device known in the art. Further, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that there are further embodiments of the present disclosure wherein these active heads are removably or interchangeably coupled to a proximal end portion.

Although in the embodiment shown in the figures distal end portion 1100 and proximal end portion 1200 are rotably coupled to one another, there are further embodiments of the present disclosure wherein the distal portion of the device and the proximal end portion of the device are rigidly coupled to one another.

The various components may be constructed of various rigid and semi-rigid materials known in the art including for instance natural and synthetic polymers and metals.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An oral utensil comprising; an elongated body having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, a distal end portion configured for executing an oral care task, and a proximal end portion having a protrusion extending in a substantially orthogonal relation from the longitudinal axis and positioned upon the proximal end portion such that it selectively abuts the palm of a user at a point P.
 2. The oral utensil of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is sized and shaped to depress pressure point as described by Scarbourough et al.
 3. The oral utensil of claim 1, wherein the distal end portion comprises a tongue brush.
 4. The oral utensil of claim 1, wherein the distal end portion comprises a tooth brush.
 5. The oral utensil of claim 1, wherein the distal end portion comprises a portion of dental floss.
 6. The oral utensil of claim 1, wherein the distal end portion and proximal end portion a separate and distinct members having a complementary male-female coupling allowing them to be coupled to one another.
 7. The oral utensil of claim 6, wherein the coupling is substantially circular, thereby allowing rotation of the distal-end portion relative to the proximal-end portion.
 8. The oral utensil of claim 7, wherein there are detents disposed upon the rotational path of the coupling operatively configured to interfere with one another at at least two points along the rotational path, thereby defining positions.
 9. The oral utensil of claim 1, wherein a section of the surface of the proximal end portion is modified by means of one at least one of the following: a embossed pattern, a recessed pattern, or a portion of material having a distinct texture, surface finish, or appearance from the remainder of the proximal end portion.
 10. The oral utensil of claim 9, wherein there is a section of material disposed upon the surface of the proximal end portion selected from either thermoplastic or silicone.
 11. The oral utensil of claim 1, wherein there is an aperture extending through the proximal end portion in substantially orthogonal relation to the long axis of the oral utensil.
 12. An oral utensil comprising; an elongated body having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, a distal end portion configured for executing an oral care task, and a proximal end portion having a protrusion extending in a substantially orthogonal relation from the longitudinal axis and positioned upon the proximal end portion such that it selectively abuts the palm of a user at a point P, wherein the protrusion is sized and shaped to depress pressure point as described by Scarbourough et al., and the distal end portion comprises a tooth brush.
 13. An oral utensil comprising; an elongated body having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, a distal end portion configured for executing an oral care task, and a proximal end portion having a protrusion extending in a substantially orthogonal relation from the longitudinal axis and positioned upon the proximal end portion such that it selectively abuts the palm of a user at a point P, wherein the protrusion is sized and shaped to depress pressure point as described by Scarbourough et al., wherein the distal end portion and proximal end portion a separate and distinct members having a complementary male-female coupling allowing them to be coupled to one another, and the distal end portion comprises a tooth brush, and wherein there is an aperture extending through the proximal end portion in substantially orthogonal relation to the long axis of the oral utensil. 